The selection panel for the David MacBrayne Limited recruitment exercise measured the evidence required as part of the application process which included knowledge and/or direct experience of the key issues affecting, including the impact of our ferries services on, our island communities.

This was assessed by the selection panel on both the information provided in the application and within the interview, where required.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05073 on 7 January 2022. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers .

The existing Scottish Household Recycling Charter has been designed to cover and encourage reuse. As set out in the Programme for Government, we are committed to evaluate the Household Recycling Charter with COSLA, and review its Code of Practice to ensure it reflects current best practice and makes it easier for households to recycle and reuse

Work to develop a waste route map to 2025 and beyond is also considering how to further support reuse given its importance within the waste hierarchy.

The Scottish Government does not hold information on temporary closures of community pharmacies or the possible cost incurred by the NHS.

The provision of community pharmacy pharmaceutical care services are the responsibility of territorial Health Boards as set out in the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2009. Any challenges faced by community pharmacies in ensuring the safe and effective dispensing of treatments should be discussed with the local Health Board.

The Scottish Government currently offers a number of funding schemes, through Transport Scotland, to support businesses (including taxi owners) make the shift to low and zero-emission vehicles. Applications for these funds can be made through the Energy Saving Trust who administer the schemes on our behalf.

Available support includes:

• the Switched-on Taxi Loan scheme which offers an interest free loan up to £120,000 to enable taxi owners and operators to replace their current vehicle with an eligible ultra-low emission vehicle.
• the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Retrofit Fund for taxi owners operating within LEZs. This provides up to 80% grant funding to replace existing diesel engines to meet the Euro 6 standard for driving within a LEZ. The grant provides up to £10,000 per wheelchair accessible taxi installing re-powering technology, or £5,000 per taxi installing exhaust after-treatment systems.
• the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) Support Fund, which is available to eligible microbusinesses and sole traders (including taxi operators), operating within a 20km radius of Scotland’s LEZs. The fund provides a £2,500 grant towards the safe disposal of non-compliant vehicles as an incentive to take older, more polluting vehicles off the road.

We acknowledge that working together is crucial, because we know that Scotland’s world-leading and legally binding net-zero target cannot be met by Government alone and a partnership approach between businesses, local authorities and communities will continue to be required to respond to the climate emergency and improve the air quality within our cities.

We have no current plans to extend free bus travel beyond the existing older and disabled persons scheme and the new young persons scheme for people under the age of 22.

Our Fair Fares Review, which is currently in its planning stages, will consider the range of discounts and concessionary schemes which are available on all modes including bus, rail and ferry, as well as the cost and availability of services.

The Gateway Review into Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) took place on 14-16 June 2021 and the follow-up Assurance of Action Plan took place on 21-23 September 2021. Subsequently, I carried out extensive engagement with industry and other stakeholders, in particular Circularity Scotland Ltd, to agree a final timescale and clear milestones for delivery. These were announced to the Scottish Parliament on 14 December 2021.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-05153 on 5 January 2022. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The Scottish Government published its response to the Just Transition Commission in September. This set out a National Just Transition Planning Framework, which defined National Just Transition Outcomes and outlined how we will work with others to manage the economic and social impacts of the net zero transition.

Our Just Transition Plan for the Energy Sector will be the first of these plans and will be published in 2022. The Plan will establish a shared vision for Scotland’s energy system and identify concrete steps to manage the economic and social impacts of the transition. It will be co-designed with representatives of workers, businesses and communities across the country. In drafting the Plan we will endeavour to amplify the voices of those most liable to be impacted by the transition.

Engagement and work on the Plan has already begun including, during COP26 convening young people from across the energy sector to discuss the opportunities and challenges for workers and businesses in the decade ahead.

We have been working with Local Government, trade unions and business organisations to establish how best to involve others in shaping the Energy Just Transition Plan. We aim to launch our engagement and co-design programme with stakeholders in the early part of this year.

The Heat in Buildings Strategy confirms our intention to introduce – subject to consultation – regulations requiring Scotland’s homes and other buildings to meet EPC Band C equivalent, where that is technically feasible and cost effective. We recently consulted on our commitment to reform EPCs; outlining our proposal to introduce a new metric to an EPC report that informs users of the amount of energy used in the dwelling, and how this can be reduced. We are committed to reforming EPCs to ensure they do not penalise the installation of a zero emissions heating system, and to ensure they drive the requisite fabric measures.

As promised in the Strategy, we intend our consultation on detailed proposals for introducing regulations on minimum standards of energy efficiency for all private housing to take place during 2022.

Options for homeowners to deliver a higher standard of energy efficiency in traditional granite walled homes could include the installation of solid wall insulation, double or secondary glazing, draught proofing, floor insulation, and where applicable, loft insulation.

We will work with stakeholders including Historic Environment Scotland to consider what specific support and measures may be needed with respect to energy efficiency and zero emissions heat in such homes.

Home Energy Scotland currently offers loans of up to £10,000, with up to £4,000 cashback available to help homeowners meet the cost of solid wall insulation. Loans of up to £4,500 are available to help meet the cost of glazing and draught proofing.